Tops

Have you ever put an article of clothing on and instantly felt better – almost like it somehow lifted your spirits? I’m a big believer in the fact that your clothes can make you feel good, no matter the price point, and that’s exactly how I felt when putting on this Michael Kors sweater.

The sweater is incredibly soft, well made and a very practical layering item. The two front pockets are well placed to help keep your hands warm and the chunky collar can be worn up or down.

One thing I’ve learned about living in a cold weather environment is that when my ears and neck get cold, my entire body seems to get cold. That’s why I really like how high the neck flips up on this sweater – it’s a really great touch.

In regards to sizing, I was almost certain the small would be a bit too snug, especially since designer clothing seems to fit a bit small… but I was wrong. It fit perfect so you might consider going down a size when making the purchase.

Michael Kors isn’t exactly inexpensive, which is why this sweater will run you $395 at Bloomingdales. I’ve search for it online and for whatever reason can’t seem to find it.

I’ve not tried on the following items, but if $395 is a bit out of your price range the North Sea Clothing expedition sweater from J. Crew is a similar style and available for $200. Taking the price down a bit further, the Twisted Yarn Sweater at Zara will run you $59 (I’m not a fan of this one – just giving you options).

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How about a bedazzled plaid western shirt from 7 For All Man Kind for the first Wednesday of the New Year? I’ve got just the thing…

I typically hate shirts that have lots of stuff going on, primarily because they make it look like you’re trying too hard to be a rock star. Sure I’m cool, but I’m not exactly a rock star (I’m definitely joking around here).

The shirt has snap closures instead of standard buttons, which adds a touch of “flavor.” The part that could be a bit much for some guys, and why I suggest only wearing it “out” is the yokes (bedazzled look) near the shoulder area. It’s not (way) over the top, but it’s a feature that makes somewhat of a bold statement.

From a fit standpoint, a medium fit me perfect. The chest and shoulder area wasn’t too small, and the length in the waste and arms wasn’t too long. Since the shirt practically fits perfect prior to washing, I highly recommend that you not toss it in the dryer – that could cause shrinkage.

I’d buy this shirt if I was looking to attract attention when going out, but it’s not something I’d wear on a random outing. Again, you don’t want to be screaming, “Hey, I’m trying to be cool!”

Like many things found online and in the stores right now this shirt is on sale. It originally sold for $198, but can be bought on the 7 For All Man Kind website for $99.

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It’s thick, but not to the point that it feels like you can’t move around, and the fit was almost perfect. The sleeves were a touch long which caused a little bunching, but that wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me.

The collar is thick enough so that you can flip it up in the back, which is great for protecting your neck from the cold. There are two pockets in the front that are well placed, but I wouldn’t recommend putting anything more than your hands in them.

From a styling standpoint, take note of the buttons. The only reason I say this is because when wearing a sweater of this nature you have to button it – no doubt about it. Not doing so is going to look very sloppy and takes away from the detail.

The Diesel K-Jack sweater is normally $220, but as of this writing you can get 30% off (Makes the price $154) by making your purchase at Diesel.com.

Happy shopping…

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While recently out and about I stopped by Banana Republic to browse around. They had a bunch of sweaters discounted, which prompted me to try a couple on – one of which the Merino Crewneck Sweater seen above.

I opted for a medium because their smalls are typically a bit snug. Upon putting the sweater on I immediately felt, well… blah. I don’t have much of a stomach, but this sweater would make you think otherwise. The fit of the medium just wasn’t flattering and the small was far too tight

My guess is that the sweater would lay properly on a guy that was 6 ft tall, but I’m lacking a few inches to meet the mark.

The quality of the Merino Crewneck Sweater is on point, like most Banana Republic items, but the fit is what became problematic for me and why I didn’t make the purchase.

Just for fun, click here to compare the “model” picture with my photo from above.

The sweater is on sale and can be purchased on the Banana Republic website for $49.99 at the time this post was written.

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